Device for delivering mail-pouches to railway-cars.



No. 704,757* Ptented Iuly l5, |902.

A .1 w. REYNOLDS.

' DEVICE FDR ELIVEFHNG` MAIL PUCHES T0 RAILWAY CARS,

(Appliction 'med Jan. 14', 1902.3

(No Model.; 2- shears-sheet -fl rimini-"Tillman /0 r f J 791 l a0 Il 9 ima No. 104,757. Patented j'uly 15, |902.

, J. W. REYNOLDS. DEVICE FOR DELIIVERING MAIL- PL'HJGHES T0 RAILWAY GARS,

(Application med 1mm 14, 1902.)

(lo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet -2.v

UNITE-D u STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. REYNOLDS, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

DEVICE FOR DELIVERING MAIL-POUCHESTO RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No'.v 704,757, dated July 1 5, 1902.

Application iiled January 14, 1902. Serial No. 89,644. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be tknown that I, JAMES W. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Delivering Mail-Pouches to Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for delivering mail-pouches to railwaycars; and the main object of my invention is the provision of a device which is readily op erated and which is more durable than the one now in use, thus producing one which is cheaper inthe end and more practical,

Another object of my inventionis'the provision of a stationary standard -upon which is mounted adj ustably means for holding the mail-pouches, which are easily attached andA ofdetached from said holding means.

To attain the desired objects, the inven? tion consists of a mail-pouch-holding apparatus embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts, substantially as disclosed herein.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention with amailpouch in position to be delivered, dotted lines denoting the position of the holding arms after the pouch has been delivered.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig; 'Elisa' detail view of the upper arm and its cpnnec-j tions removed from operative position.4 Fig. i is a similar view of the lower arm, Fig.` 5

is a top plan view of the upper armspivotal end. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view ofthe' grated platform.

Referring by numerals to the drawings', ,the-- to the bell-shaped support by means of the brackets 7, and also surrounding the post is the grated circular platform 8, which acts as an auxiliary steadying-support for the post. Leading from the platform to the ground is a ladder 9, in order that a person may operate my invention. Mounted adjustably upon the upper end of the post, by means of a setscrew or other Well-known clamping means,

is a ring or band 10, carrying the upper dead arm 1l, which is provided with the slotted endl l2inwhich is revolubly mounted, by

' means of the pin 13, the wheel or circular disk 14. This disk is provided with the half-solid portion 15 and the spokes 16 and also the upper live arm 17, upon which the upper end of the mail-pouch is hung. Mountedin the dead arm are the spring-actuated catches 18,which are adapted to engage the disk between its Vspokes as the live arm is swung around after delivering a mail-pouch. This is done to prevent the live arm from striking any of the cars after the mail-pouch is delivered. Mounted adj ustably, by means of a set-screw, upon the postbelow the upper dead arm is a ring or band 19, which carries the lower stationary or dead arm 20, which is pivoted so as to have a vertical swinging movement upon its outer end, the lower pivoted or live arm v21, which is provided with the longitudinal slot 22 in its end, and pivoted in this slot so as to have a horizontally-swinging movement is trip-lever 23, which is adapted to engage the strap upon the lower end of the pouch and allow the pouch to be snatched from the crane and lessen the jar, so that the strain and wear and tear upon the strap are reduced.

InV order to hold the lower live arm out of the wayv of., any moving object when not in use, I provide a spring-catch 24, secured to the outer periphery of the platform.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved crane and means for holding and delivering a mail-pouch will'be readily understood and its numerous advann tages fully appreciated; but the operation, briefly stated, is as follows: The operator ascends the ladder to the grated platform, where he places the upper end of thel pouch into engagement with the outer end ,of the ,f upper live arm. The catch is thenreleased: and the live arm swung outward, carrying the pouch. The operator now descends to the ground, where he raises the lower live arm and connects its trip-lever with the lower end of the pouch, thus leaving the pouch in the proper position to be snatched by the passing IOO train. As the arm upon the mail-car engages the pouch both arms are moved slightly in the direction of the moving train, when the trip-lever releases the lower end of the pouch and the pouch is slid from off the end of the upper live arm. The lower live arm drops and is engaged by its spring-catches and is held out of the way, while the upper live arm continues in its movement until the springcatches carried by its dead arm engage the disk by entering one of the spaces between the spokes, thus holding the upper live arm to one side and out of the way of any other moving train.

As the entire mechanism is made of metal, it will be seen that the parts will be very durable, and this continual repairing of the cranes, as I have noticed for many years, will be dispensed with.

It is evident that I provide a crane and mechanism for holding and delivering mailpouches which are very simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive, thus producing a thoroughly efficient and practical improvemeut.

l. In combination with a suitable support, of a pair of vertically-adj ustable dead arms arranged one above the other, a horizontallyswinging live arm carried by the upper dead arm, and a vertically-swinging live arm carried by the lower dead arm.

2. In combination with a suitable support, of an upper dead arm, a horizontally-swinging disk carrying an arm mounted in said dead arm, means for holding the same t0 either side carried by the dead arm, and a lower dead arm carrying a vertically-swinging live arm.

3. In combinationl with a support, of an upper dead arm, a horizontally-swinging live arm carried thereby, and a lower dead arm, having a vertically-swinging live arm, said live arm having a laterally-swinging trip-lever` to engage the pouch.

4. In combination with a suitable support, of an upper dead arm, a horizontally-swinging disk carrying an arm mounted in said dead arm, means for holding the same to either side carried by the dead arm, a lower dead arm, a vertically-swim ging live arm carried by said lower dead arm, and a laterallyswinging trip-lever carried by said lower live arm.

5. In combination with a bell-shaped base and a vertical post, of a pair of verticallyadjustable dead arms arranged one above the other, a horizontally-swinging,live arm carried by the upper dead arm, and a verticallyswinging live arm carried by the lower dead arm.

6. In combination with a bell-shaped base and a vertical post, of an upper dead arm mounted on the post, a horizontally-swinging disk carrying an arm mounted in said dead arm, means for holding the same to either side carried by the dead arm, a lower dead arm mounted upon the post, and a verticallyswinging live arm carried by said lower dead arm.

7. In combination with a bell-shaped base and a vertical post, of an upper dead arm, a horizontally-swinging live arm carried thereby, a lower dead arm mounted on the post, a vertically-swinging live arm carried by the lower dead arm, and a laterally-swinging triplever carried by said lower live arm.

8. In combination with a bell-shaped base and a vertical post, of an upper dead arm, a horizontally-swinging disk carrying an arm mounted in said dead arm, means for holding the same to either side carried by the dead arm, a lower dead arm, a vertically-swinging live arm carried by said lower dead arm, and a laterally-swin gin g trip-lever carried by said lower live arm.

9. In combination with a bell-shaped base, a vertical post mounted therein, a platform surrounding said post, and brackets to secure the platform to the base and brace the post, of vertically-adjustable dead arms mounted upon said post, and swinging live arms carried by said dead arms for holding and delivering the mail-pouch.

10. In combination with a bell-shaped base, a vertical post mounted therein, a platform surrounding said post, and brackets to secure the platform to the base and brace the post, of a pair of vertically-adjustable dead arms arranged one above the other on the post, a horizontally-swinging live arm carried by the upper dead arm, and a vertically-swinging live arm carried by the lower dead arm.

1]. In combination with a bell-shaped base, a vertical post mounted therein, a platform surrounding said post, and brackets to secure the platform to the base and brace the post, of an upper dead arm mounted on the post, a horizontally-swinging disk carrying an arm mounted in said dead arm, a lower dead arm mounted upon the post, and a verticallyswinging arm carried by said lower dead arm.

12. In combination with a bell-shaped base, a vertical post mounted therein, a platform surrounding the post, and brackets to secure the platform to the base and brace the post, of an upper dead arm mounted on the post, a horizontally-swingin g live arm carried thereby, a lower dead arm mounted on the post, a vertically-swinging live arm carried by the lower dead-arm,and a laterally-Swingin g triplever carried by said lower arm.

13. In combination with a bell-shaped base, a vertical post mounted therein, a platform surrounding said post, and brackets to secure the platform to the base and brace the post, of an upper dead arm mounted on the post, a horizontally-swinging disk carrying an arm mounted in said dead arm, a lower dead arm, a vertically-Swingin g live arm carried by said lower dead arm, and a laterally-swinging triplever carried by said lower live arm.

14. In combination with abell-shaped base, a vertical post mounted therein, a platform surrounding said base, means to connect gaged` by thespring catch of the platform xo the platform and base andbraee the post, and when the live arm is out of use. a Yspring-carteh carried upon the forward part In testimony whereof I affix my signature of the platform, of an upper dead arm carin presence of two witnesses. 5 red by said post, a swinging live arm oonneeted thereto, spring-catches for holding the JAMES W REYNOLDS' live arm out of use, a. lower dead arm mounted Witnesses: on the post, and a swinging live armearred J. DOUGLAS WETMORE, by the lower dead arm and adapted to be en- GOOD L. FORRIS. 

